Two Austrian hostages kidnapped months ago when they were on holiday in Tunisia have been freed and are in the hands of Malian authorities, agencies reported on Friday.

Andrea Kloiber and Wofgang Ebner, 43 and 51 respectively when they disappeared in February, are reported to have been held in a remote place of Mali in the Sahara.

Two Austrian hostages kidnapped months ago when they were on holiday in Tunisia have been freed and are in the hands of Malian authorities, agencies reported on Friday.[Xinhua/AFP]

"They are both under the protection of Mali's army and are on the way to the capital Bamako," Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik was quoted as saying in a statement.

An affiliate of the Islamic militant group al-Qaida claimed responsibility for abducting them.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2008)